Sighting in Izeste, November 18, 2014

The witness saw an aircraft turn back in mid-sky, followed very closely by an object positioned between its left wing and its tail. Air traffic control, consulted during the investigation, confirmed that the witness had indeed seen an aircraft, but an unusual one: an Airbus Industrie A350 on a test or demonstration flight. Its path was out of the ordinary, with two loops over the Pyrenees before landing in Toulouse at 12:50. Airbus was getting ready to deliver its first A350 within the following month.

The object seen beside the A350 was a smaller aircraft, a Corvette, taking pictures in flight, according to information obtained from Airbus Industrie. Positioned south of the Airbus, it had a favourable angle relative to the sun for photo and video work. The A350 was flying at about 10,000 m. To the witness the escort appeared very close to it, but it was probably well above, so as to film the aircraft from overhead.

The GEIPAN classed the case as A: a definite sighting of a large airliner on a test or demonstration flight, accompanied by a light aircraft taking pictures.